First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Less than two weeks ago, an evangelical pastor in Mozambique died trying to do what he thought Jesus did in preparation for his public ministry. Rev. Francisco Barajah attempted to spend 40 days without eating or drinking anything, not even water. On the twenty-fifth day of his fast, he was rushed to the hospital and treated for severe dehydration, anemia, and organ failure. Tragically, it was too late. Efforts to treat him proved futile. He was just 39 years old.

The synoptic gospels—Mark, Matthew and Luke—all recount that, after he was baptized in the Jordan River by John, Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days. Matthew (4:1-11) and Luke (4:1-13) mention that Jesus fasted during that time and at the end was hungry. Mark (1:12-13) doesn’t mention fasting. None of these gospels (there is no such story in John) note that Jesus fasted from water, and none note that he was thirsty at the end of 40 days.

All of the synoptic gospels, however, note that Jesus was tempted by the devil. In the Gospel of Matthew, Satan uses a strategy similar to that of the serpent in our first reading from Genesis: what we would now call “gaslighting.” Using verses from the scriptures, he tries to get Jesus to question his relationship with his Father and the mission he is about to undertake. Jesus is confronted with three temptations that we also face from time to time, and he counters Satan with other more compelling and fundamental verses from the scriptures, as well as his desire to his Father’s will.

The first temptation is to pride. Jesus, famished after 40 days of fasting, is dared to use his power to turn stones into bread. Jesus resists, insisting that his ultimate food is “every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The second temptation is to presumption. Jesus is challenged to test his Father’s care by throwing himself down from the parapet of the temple. He refuses, reminding the devil of a lesson he should have learned when he was cast from heaven: “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

The third temptation is to power. Jesus is invited to sell his soul for “all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence.” Jesus finally tells Satan, “Get away,” and he confronts the devil with a verse that cuts to the heart of his alienation and eternal damnation: “The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.”

The devil left Jesus for a time, and he has never stopped trying to ruin the Lord’s followers with those same ancient temptations and empty promises. Satan tries to convince us that we have the power to do whatever we want without regard to God’s will, to take God’s mercy and care for granted, and to sell our souls for worldly power and riches.

The season of Lent give us the opportunity and the tools to resist and, through God’s grace, to overcome these temptations. We fight pride with fasting, trusting in the bread of God’s word and providence to sustain us. We battle presumption with prayer, fortifying our relationship with God and helping us to grow in wisdom and prudence. We reject worldly power by divesting ourselves of some of our wealth through almsgiving and works of justice and mercy. As we enter another 40-day journey of renewal and conversion, we ask for God’s continued protection and help. jc